Burial vault



Aug. 22, 1933.

Filed May l2, 1932 C. R. NEFF BURIAL VAULT 2 Sheets-Sheet l @Q5/Rv. /9 Zi? 22 /0 \9 20 a L/ N 9m 7 2 n 2/ F Z INVEN TOR.

C/S'Ude A? /Yeff M Y M ATTORNEY Aug. 22, 1933.

c. R5? NEFF BURIAL VAULT Filed May 12, 1932 /Www 2 Sheets-Shee1-I 2 INVENTOR. C/'uc/Z f?. Neff BY ,gm/Lm# W ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 22, 1933 UNITED STATES 1,923,792 BURIAL VAULT Claude R. Neff, Camden, lOllio, assigner to The Neff & Fry Company, Camden, Ohio, a Corporation of Ohio Application May 12, 1932. Serial No. 610,830

8 Claims.

ground burial vaults.

One of the objects of my invention is 'to provide a burial vault which may be used as a surface burial vault or which may be readily converted into an underground burial vault.

Another object of my invention is kto provide a vault which may be made of concrete or other suitable material and which is of such a design that it can be manufactured at a relatively loW cost.

Another object of my invention isto provide a surface burial Vault which is made ci several sections so that it can be readily handled and positioned in the desired place.v i

.Another object of my inve; tion is to provide a vault having a casket chamber and a means consisting of a dead air chamber. disposed above the casket chamber or a chamber lled with some suitable insulating material for insulating the casket chamber and a means for eectively sealing the casket chamber and the insulating chamber.

In its preferred form, my invention contemplates the provision of a vault which consists of of main body portion which is designed to formy casket chamber by mounting an inverted box-v like structure on the lid oi the casket chamber. This chamber may be a dead air chamber or may be lled with cork or some other insulating substance. This inverted box-like structure has its lower end open and the lower edges of the walls thereof are adapted to fit into grooves formed on the upper surface of the casket chamber lid. Suitable sealing compound may be used for sealing the inverted box-like structure on the lid of the casket chamber. A cover slab may be placed on the upper end of the inverted box-like structure although the top of the box-like structure Ii desired, this cover slab,

Figure 1 is a perspective View showing a surface burial vault positioned in the ground, such vault being constructed in accordance with my invention.

"Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of a burial.- vault made in accordance with my invention and showing it'after it has been positioned in the ground. I Figure 3 is a transverse section of a vault of the type shown in Figures l and 2 and 'showing a casket in the casket chamber.

' Figure 4 `is a transverse section or a vault made in accordance with my invention having the dead air chamber omitted therefrom and being adapted to serve as an underground burialvault. p l

Figure 5 is transverse section of a vault Vsimilar to that shown in Figure 4 with the eX- ception that in this instance the vault is provided with a slightly different form of lid which is hinged tothe upper end of the body portion of the vault.

Figure 6` is a transverse section of a vault similar to the 'typeshown in Figures 4 and5, and in this instance the body' portion 'is shown` inverted over a slab on which the casket rests, and the closed` end `of the vault is in this instance the top of the vault.

With reference tothe drawings, and particularly to Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, I haveishown Va surface burial vauit'made in accordance with my invention. This vault maybe constructed of any suitable material, preferably concrete, although it may be made oi various plastic or other materials. v

The vault comprises avbody portion 1; which is adapted to form a chamber 2 in Which the casket is adapted to be placed. It will be understood that if this vault is madeoi concrete or other 'such material it may be suitably reinforced throughout although I have not `shown, such reinforcement. The body portion jl comprises end walls 3 and 4, side walls 5 and 6 and the bottom 7, all being formed integrally with each other. This chamber 2 may be of any suitvable size and is preferably of Ysuch a size as to y cover such chamber. The portion 10 is provided with a ange 11 which depends from the portion 10 a considerable distance and which is formed around the entire outer edge of the portion 10. It will be obvious that this flange may be formed integral with the portion 10 or may be joined thereto in any suitable manner. When the cover 10 is positioned on the upper end of the body portion 1, a space 12 is provided between the inner surface of the flange 11 and the outer surface of the upper end of the walls of the body portion 1. Before the lid 9 is placed on the upper end of the body portion l, suitable sealing material 13 is preferably placed entirely around the upper edge of such body portion although it will not be necessary to use sealing material at all, since the air seal produced between the lid and the body portion V1 will effectively seal the casket chamber, as will be apparent hereinafter.

It will be understood that, when thev lid 9 is mounted on the upper end of the body portion 1 the casket chamber 2 will be effectively sealed. This sealing is accomplished in two ways. It will be obvious that if water begins to ascend into the space 12 it will compress the air therein and therefore, further movement of the water upwardly will be precluded. If no sealing compound is used between the lid 9 and the body portion 1, movement of water up into the space 12 will compress the air in such space and in the casket chamber itself so that further movement of the water will be precluded. In other words, the lid 9 in cooperation with the body portion 1 forms an air seal which will prevent entrance of moisture into the casket chamber.

The sealing compound 13 when used will also aid in preventing moisture from entering the casket chamber 2 and will also preclude the passage of air thereinto. By sealing the lid 9 to the body portion 1 with a suitable compound these units will be so bound together that they will practically be the same as one unit, thus offering a great handicap to anyone trying to steal the casket.

I have provided a member 14 which is of substantially the shape of a box and which comprises side walls 15 and 16, end walls 1'7 and 18, and a top wall 19. The lower end of this boxlike structure is open. The lower edges of the walls of this box-like structure are adapted to Y t into a groove 20 which is formed in the upper surface of the portion 10 of the lid 9. When this member 14 is mounted on the lid 9 as vshown in the drawings, it is adapted to produce a chamberZl above the casket chamber 2. This Achamber is preferably a dead air chamber but may be filled with cork or other suitable insulat-v ing substances. A suitable sealing compound 22 may be disposed in the groove 20 around the lower edge of the walls of the member 14. This sealing compound is adapted to preclude enthe upper surface of the top wall 19 of the member 14. This cover slab may consist of a slab of marble, granite or other such material, or

may consist of a slab of pre-cast material which material, may be mounted on one end of the slab 23. It will also be obvious that a head stone may be provided which may be mounted on the member 14 or slab 23 or may have its lower end underground and resting on one end of the 11d 9.

It will be obvious that the body portion 1 is first placed in the grave and the casket is then lowered thereinto. The lid 9 is then positioned on the upper end of the casket chamber. The member 14 is then mounted on the lid 9 and if the slab 23 is formed separate therefrom, it is then placed thereon. The vault is then buried with the upper end of the member 14 level with the surface of the surrounding ground. If a slab is not used and the portion 23 is cast integral with the member 14 such portion will protrude above the ground.

It will be obvious that the cover slab 23 or the portion 23 which is cast integral with the member 14, not only serves to increase the attractiveness of the vault but also provides a heavy absorbing surface which will absorb the heat or cold from the outer air to prevent the.` dead air chamber or insulating chamber 21 from"100 being materially affected thereby. The dead air chamber or insulatingv chamber 21 will form a very effective insulation means between the outside air and the casket chamber 2. Thus, an. even temperature will be maintained in the casket chamber and the casket cannot possibly bev affected by outer air conditions and the corpse in the casket will keep indefinitely. The

action of the sun or warmth upon the exposed..

part of the burial vault, due to capillary attrac--fv tion, tends to draw any moisture in the Ycasket chamber 2 from such chamber throughI the lid 9 into the insulating chamber 21, and then from the insulating chamber through the top of memer ber 14 and through member 23 out into the atmosphere. Thus, since no moisture can enter the casket chamber 2, the moisture contained-in this instance the member 14 is not used and the vault merely consists of a casket chamber withl" out having a dead-air chamber or insulating chamber thereabove This vault is adapted to be buried underground. It will be obvious that the casket chamber is identical with that shown comprises the body portion 1 which is identical with that shown in Figures i to 4 inclusive. However, this vault is provided with a slightly different form of cover. This cover comprises an arched member 25 which is hinged to the-body portion 1 by hinge members as at 26. cover is provided with depending anges 27 which extend entirely around the inner surface of the upper edge of the walls of the body portion 1. Sealing material 28 is disposed between the upper edges of the walls or the body portion 1 and the cover. It will also The :j

be obvious that the cover is constructed in such a manner and cooperates with the upper edge of the body portion 1 in such a manner, that an air seal will also be produced.

Figure 6 shows another form of underground burial vault. This vault comprises a body portion 1 similar to that shown in the preceding figures and which may be cast in the same mold as the body portion of the vaults previously described. The body portion 1 may be inverted and disposed over a slab 29 which is provided with depending flanges 30 which are adapted to rest on the iioor of the grave. The casket is adapted to rest on the slab 29 and the body portion 1 is adapted to entirely enclose such casket. portion 1 may be provided with a flat top as shown by the dotted lines or an arched top as shown by the full line. It will be obvious that it will not be necessary to seal the slab 29 to the body portion 1 as an air seal will be produced between the edges of the slab and the walls of the body portion 1.

It will be understood that the surface vault made in accordance with my invention may be readily converted into various types of under-Y ground burial vaults. It will also be understood that in the casting of these vaults, the same identical mold may be used in forming all of the various types with the exception of the type shown in Figure 6 which is provided with the arched upper end. In this instance, it will be necessary to use an arched plate in the bottom of the mold.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A surface burial vault comprising a body portion adapted to form the casket chamber, a lid mounted on the upper end of said body portion, said lid being provided with a continuous depending flange adapted to form an air seal between said lid and said body portion and being situated on the outside of said body portion, sealing compound disposed between said lid and said body portion, a removable member mounted on said lid, said member comprising an inverted substantially box-like structure, said structure having its lower edges tting into a groove formed in the upper surface of said lid. y

2. A surface burial vault comprising a body portion adapted to form the casket chamber, a lid mounted on the upper end of said body portion, *said lid being provided with a depending flange adapted to form an air seal between said lid and said body portion, sealing compound disposed between said lidY and said body portion, a removable member mounted on said lid, said member comprising an inverted substantially boxlike structure, said structure having its lower edges fitting into a groove formed in the upper surface of said lid, a sealing compound disposed in said groove around the lower edge of said structure, and a cover slab mounted on the upper end of said structure.

3. A burial vault comprising a body portion adapted to form a casket chamber, a lid mounted on the upper end of said body portion and The upper` end of the bodyk having a depending flange adapted to surround the upper end of said body portion, an inverted box-like structure mounted on the upper surface of said lid, saidbox-like structure being of substantially less area than said lid so that a portion of said lid is left uncovered by said box-like structure. l

Y 4. A burial vault comprising a body portion of substantially rectangular cross-section, a lid mounted on the upper end of saidl body portion and having a depending ange which will lie entirely around the upper end of said body portion but which will be spaced from the outer surface thereof, an inverted box-like structure removably mounted on the upper surface of said lid, said box-like structure having its lower edges fitting into a groove formed in the upper surface of said lid, and said box-like structure being of substantially less area than said lid;

5. A burial vault comprising a hollow body portion adapted to form a casket chamber, a lid mounted upon the upper end of said casket chamber, said lid being provided with a continuous depending flange adapted to form an air seal between said lid and said bodyportion, and a hollow member mounted on said lid adapted to form an insulating chamber above said casket chamber and attached in an air tight manner to said lid. l

6. A burial vvault comprising a hollow body portion adapted to form a casket chamber, a lid mounted upon the upper end of vsaid casket chamber, said lid being provided with a continuous depending flange adapted to form an air seal between said lid and said -body portion, and a hollow member mountedfon said lid adapted to form an insulating chamber above said casket chamber and attached in an air tight manner to said lid, said member being substantially of less area than said body portion.

7. A burial vault comprising a body portion, a chamber formed in said body portion and adapted to receive a casket, the upper end of said casket chamber being open, a lid mounted on the upper end of said body portion for completely closing the upper end of 1 said casket chamber, said lid comprising'a main portion having a downwardly extending flange disposed entirely around the edges thereof, said flange extending downwardly over the upper portion of said bodyV portion for a considerable distance and completely surrounding the upper end of l said body portionA and being spaced from the walls of said body portion so that a chamber is formed between the inner walls of said flange and the outer walls of said body portion, said last named chamberhaving'its upper en'd closed and its lower end open so that an air seal is 'formed between said lid and said body portion.

Y8. A burial vault comprising a hollow body portion adapted to form a casket chamber, a lid mounted upon the upper end of said casket 

